About The Long Island Gardener Expertise Do you know the wrong fertilizer will keep your plants from blooming?
Do you know that too much Nitrogen can kill your grass, even if it does not burn the roots? Do you know that Roses need a LOT of Nitrogen to bloom -- and why is that?
There's some complex chemistry in those plant foods. The secrets behind N-P-K are the key to the ultimate lawn, the the biggest flowers, the most fruits and vegetables. And if you don't get it right, you could be sorry.
I'll show you what you did wrong, and how to fix it.
Experience Homeowner with gardens indoors and outdoors, lawns back and forth. I wrote my first gardening column for our college newspaper, teaching roomates about the right way to feed those windowsills gardens. Today I look for challenges. Organic Fertilizers are the key to proper feeding of all our plants. Can you make your own fertilizer? Some people think so -- but there are side effects. I have been there, done that for 54 years and there is nothing like the voice of experience when it comes to Horticulture and Fertilizers.
Publications Numerous and sundry but only in college did I write about plants.
Education/Credentials B.A., Botany and Mass Communications.
Question Greetings!
I read one of your answer posts where you mentioned that you could provide information about who to ask for a soil test. My location is Raleigh, NC 27603. Could you help me find a soil test source locally?
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
A Budding Gardener, Ash
Answer You are one of those special people who just happens to be in the right place at the right time, my friend. North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA) Agronomic Division does Soil Testing right in Raleigh:
NC's state university 'TurfFiles' has a website you will probably find of interest:
www.turffiles.ncsu.edu
and they have updated their insider's guide to NC Grass, 'Carolina Lawns (AG-69)', by Crop Science professor Art Bruneau.
I would appreciate your ranking me for this short answer as the long answers don't get much ranking attention -- most of all, a Nomination for AllExpert of the Year would be helpful so that I can get on their hit parade list at the end of 2008.
Your followups invited. Those are however some good publications for your area, and the NCDA is a first rate organization.
